Malls in Metro Manila extend operating hours for Christmas: MMDA

MANILA - (UPDATE) Malls in Metro Manila will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from next week until January 15, 2018, to help ease traffic congestion during the Christmas season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Friday.

Starting November, mall-wide sale events will also be limited to weekends, according to the agreement between the MMDA and mall operators.

At least 16 malls are located along EDSA, which runs from Caloocan City to Pasay City, and the entry points for these malls' parking area have been identified as a major source of rush hour gridlocks.

Mall operator Robinsons Land Corp will implement the adjusted operating hours even for malls that are not along ESDA, said its general manager, Arlene Magtibay.

The chairman of the MMDA, Danilo Lim, advised shoppers to plan their trips to the mall and encouraged them to carpool.

Mall operators also agreed to have their deliveries done from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. to help reduce the number of trucks using major thoroughfares in the morning.

The MMDA expects at least 3,000 vehicles will be off EDSA during morning rush hour when the plan is implemented. -- reports from Zhander Cayabyab and Doris Bigornia, ABS-CBN News